End of high school music to Skyview seniors' ears

Posted: Friday, May 28, 2004

By PHIL HERMANEKPeninsula Clarion

The muses of singing and music must have been smiling May 24 as a number of gifted seniors performed original songs and personal arrangements of standards during the 2004 Skyview High School graduation ceremony at the Soldotna Sports Center.

The harmonic voices of the Skyview Swing Choir filled the decorated arena as the group opened the ceremony singing the national anthem and later performed its rendition of the Beatles' tune "Yesterday."

The musical show stopper, however, was class salutatorian David Thornton singing and performing his own "Blessing," a Christian ballad with lyrics such as "Know I've loved you" and "I pray my life will always bless your heart."

After graduating, Thornton said he plans to major in music at California Baptist University in Riverside, Calif.

One of four class valedictorians who all attained perfect 4.0 grade point averages through high school, Michelle Trumpler, played her piano arrangement of "Over the Rainbow."

The talented senior, who earlier had become emotionally choked up while thanking her mom and dad for helping her reach the graduation milestone, credited her jazz arrangement of the standard in part to composer George Shearing.

Skyview High School 2004 graduates listen as Principal John Pothast advises them to "live, learn and laugh a little each day," and, in the words of William Shakespeare, "To thine own self be true."

Photo by Phil Hermanek

Trumpler plans to major in jazz piano at the University of Miami.

She also accompanied guitarist Dane Poppin who played "Times Like These."

The musical performances surrounded keynote speeches by announcer Dennis Smith and work co-op teacher David Means.

Smith told the graduating class of the importance of family, community and country and urged them to volunteer.

"Step forward," Smith said.

"Your hands are needed."

Means, who said he was honored to be asked by the graduating class to be a keynote speaker, invited the 120 graduates to celebrate the day, "which might be the most important celebration of your lives."

"I urge each of you to sit down and think what your goals in life are ... then raise the bar," Means said.